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March 6, 1928. 1,661,377

A. N. LUTz CORPSE SUPPORTING REST Filed July 9. 1&26

, atroz naga Patented Mar. 6, 1928.

ADAM N. LUTZ, OF SANDUSKY,

OHIO, ASSIGNOR 0F ONE-HALF T0 EDWARD J. ROSINO,

OF SANDUSKY, OHIO.

CORPSE-SUPPORTING REST.

Application filed July 9, 1926. Serial No. 121,285.

purposes of the present invention is to pro? vide an attachment or device which may be placed in the casket to support the body of the corpse above the casket, and which involves adjusting features that permit of raising the head and sides of the body in a number of different ways so as to obtain a nearly lifeslike attitude of'repose. A sec-v ond purpose of the invention has been to devise a body adjusting device of the general type referred to, which not only is useful to support the body of a corpse in the casket, but will be susceptible of advantageous use as a means to hold the body during the process of embalming, supporting the corpse under `such conditionsso that when ultimate ridigity takes place, the corpse will not be difficult to place in a natural lifelike attitude when arranged in the casket subsequent to the embalming.

More specifically, the invention involves an adjustable rest device involving an upper body support, a head support and a side adjusting support all arranged in a compact structure susceptibleV of folding and with the parts readily adapted to be covered by the lining, cloth or silk or other material, in the casket, when the device is employed with the latter. The construction is one which is relatively inexpensive also and may be retained within the casket when it is buried with the corpse. j

A full understanding of the inventionk will be had upon reference to the following detaileddescription, and to the accompanying drawings, in the latter of which Figure 1 is a side view of a common type of casket showing the 'corpse disposed therein and about one-half of the casket beingV broken away and illustrated in section to disclose the arrangement of my device in supporting relation to the corpse.

Figure 2 is a detailed perspective view of the adjustable rest device alone.

Figure 3 is a cross sectional view taken about on the line 3&3 of Figure 2, looking in the direction of the arrows.

Describing the invention specilically, in conjunction` with the drawings, A denotes the casket yillustrated which may be of any conventional type at present in use. It is unnecessary to refer to conventional ,methods of burial but at B is shown the corpse which is to be buried in the casket as used. The casket Axis equipped with the usual lining C and it is contemplated to lace the adjustable rest of this invention eneath said lining.

Referring particularly to Figure 2, it is notable that the adjustable rest device comprises a main or base frame 1 upon which is mounted a pivoted adjustable supporting frame 2, the points of pivotal connection being located at 3. As a means for holding the adjustable frame 2 in diii'erent positions I provide pivoted dogs 4 which are adapted to engage in anyone of the series of notches 5 provided longitudinally of the sides of the frame 2 near the ends opposite the pivotal connections 3.

Mounted upon the adjustable frame 2 is the adjustable head rest 6 which consists of side members pivo'tally connected at 7 to the sides o't' the adjustable frame 2. The sides ot the head rest 6 are connected by a cross piece 8 hingedly attached at 9 to said sides. A flexible apron or support l0 also connects the free ends of the sides of the'head rest 6 at a point adjacent to the connection of the cross piece 8.` The purpose of the apron l0 is to give a relatively large area of support adjacent to the piece or head portion of the corpse in the manner typiied by the illustration of Figure l. In order to support the head rest 6 at different adjustments as required I use ratchet members l1 pivoted to the sides ot. the head rest 6 and said ratchet members engage the transverse rod 12 carried by the sides of the frame 2.

Another reason for providing the crosspiece 8 hingedly connected with the sides of the rest 6, and the apron 10 aording a flexible connection, is to enable either' side'of the rest 6 to be raised or adjusted higher or lower than' the other side. This is necessary and advantageous if the most natural pos- 'tures are to be given to the head portion of to enable one side of the body at thewaist" and shoulder portions to be elevated or loW- ered a slightly greater distance as may be refquired, than the other side. Owing tothe l flexibility of the connection betweeny the Vsides of the rests 6 and 13 quite a ievv differ ent adjustments ofv4 the various portions of.

the said rests may beobtained.

.amount of lspace When not being used. Ob-

viously the rest device is susceptible of employment by the undertaker and embalmer to assist him in holding or supporting the corpse Vas the embalming process is perormeoh I do not Wish to be limitedto the specification, size or proportions of my device as shown 'because these may be modified to a considerable extent under practical conditions ofv manufacture and use. Moreover, While, Iv may construct' my device ofv metal or Wood, I Wish it understood that I' may have recourse to various kinds of materials, so far as this phase-oi the practical embodimentof this invention is concerned.`

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent of the United States, is

1. In an adjustable rest device such as described, a main base frame, a main adjustable supporting frame carried by the base frame, and another rest frame having side `members pivoted Within said main adjustable restl` frame, the main adjustable rest frame and the rest frame carried thereby being adjustable so that opposite ends thereof Will be elevated or lowered by their adjustment, and means to hold the two rest frames in adjusted positions.

' 2. In an adjustable rest device such as described, a main base frame, a main adjustable supporting'frame carried bythe base frame, and another rest frame carried by said main adjustable rest `tram-e, the main adjustable rest frame and the rest frame carried thereby being adjustable so that opposite ends thereof will be elevated or lowered by their adjustment, and means to hold the two rest frames in adjusted positions, one

of said rest frames being pivoted entirely Within the other so that they may become l a plurality ofv successively disposed secondary rest frames pivotally mounted atone endl on the main rest frame and adaptedto be inclined by their adjustment thereon in'. a

direction opposite to the inclination/of the main rest frame, the said secondary rest;

on, and separately mounted secondary restframes carried by the main rest frame and pivoted thereto to incline in a direction thereon opposite to thev direction ofinclination of their supporting rest frame.

6. In a rest device, abase Vframe, a mainv pivoted supporting frame carriedtliereby, a

headrest adjustable on Vthe said' adjustablev frame, and an independent middle body rest also adjustable on said adjustablef'rame.

7. In a rest device, a basel frame, amain pivoted supporting frame` carried thereby,- a head rest adjustable on the saidadjustable frame, and a middle body rest also adjustable on said adjustable frame', the head frame and middle body rests comprising sides pivotedto the rest frame and flexible aprons connecting said sides.

8. An adjustable rest device for-the pur-f pose described, comprising av main. base frame, a supporting frame pivoted tothe base frame, and a plurality of rest frames independently mounted on thel supporting frame. Y

9. An adjustable rest device for the-pur,- pose described, comprising a main base -frame, a main adjustable supporting frame pivoted to the. base frame, andl a plurality of rest frames independently mounted and separately adjustable on `the supporting frame.y

10. An adjustable rest device for the ur.-

frame, a. main supporting frame attached to the base frame, and a rest frame mounted 0n the supporting frame, said rest frame including side members which are independently adjustable with respect tothe supporting frame.

l1. An adjustable rest device for the purpose described, comprising a main base frame, a main adjustable supporting frame pvoted to the base frame, independently ad- 10 just-able means on eachlside of said supporting frame for holding it in position, and rest frames carried by said supporting frame,

In testimony whereof I aix my signature.

ADAM N. LUTZ. 

